The legendary comic book creator Stan Lee recently founded his own children’s book imprint with 1821 Comics and Terry Dougas (pictured, with Lee).
Stan Lee’s Kid’s Universe introduces a host of new storybook characters and brings Lee’s comic book legacy to a new generation of readers. We caught up with Lee for an email interview, getting his advice about creating the best books for kids. He shared these essential elements:
Colors and fun characters are essential in capturing children’s attention and sparking their imagination. Then, a creative story that takes these characters on an exciting, educational journey to make children care about these characters and engage them on a deeper level.
Lee continued, talking about two specific books published in his new imprint:
Once Upon A Time There Was A Pig [by Dani Jones] introduces Hamilton the pig who desperately tries to tell a story but keeps getting interrupted by his furry friends. The story of Reggie the Veggie Crocodile is told in rhyme, which is a fun way to engage children. It encourages children to maintain a balanced diet, and eat plenty of vegetables along with their meat … Both have wonderful and fun illustrations and they both have animal characters that children will find familiar.
Finally, Lee offered this advice for aspiring children’s book illustrators and writers:
Stay true to your imagination and do everything in your power to keep the child inside you alive. I still live by these rules today, I am still a child at heart … Find your own personal style; your own voice, and explore it, refine it, perfect it. Then perfect it again. And most importantly, never give up. Remember that your artwork is a gift. Your pictures have the power to ignite dreams and inspire countless people.